Apparatus for handling metal strip



Aug. .11, 1942. J. F. FE'RM APPARATUS FOR HANDLIN -MUSHR- Filed July 10; 1941 -4 Sheets- Sheet 1 'INVENTOR 'Jolmlfirm,

BY M M N. Y

,Aug. 11, 1942-. F, FERM- 2,292,511 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING METAL STRIP Filed July 10, 1941 4 Sheets-She'et 2 A M JEEFEESE Au 11, 1 942. J. F. FERM 2,292,511 I APPARATUS FOR HANDLVING METAL STRIP I Filed July 10, 1941 4 She ets-Sh eet 3 v a g? I INVENTOR Jahnli'lkm BY a: I 1 %-r mag ATTORNEYS I 2 g ml Aug. 11, 1942. J. F. FERMY 2 I 'MPPARATUS FOR ngmmnw flaw. 51-31? rileduuly 10, 1941 4Sheets-Sh9qt 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 11, 1942 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING METAL STRIP:

John F. Ferrn, Midland, Pa., assign'or to Crucible Steel Company of America, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 10, 1941, Serial No. 401 ,7"75 13 Claims. (Cl. ace-s) This invention relates to apparatus and equipment for controlling and regulating the travel of strip-metal, and more particularly its speed and tension at various points, while the strip is being subjected to annealing or other possible treatments of a character tobe applied uniformly and continuously as the strip passes through the equipment.

.The continuous annealing of metal strip such as steel strip in tin plate gauges or heavier gauges, involves a number of difliculties whichare overcome by this invention, as regards proper control or regulationof the strip speed and tension as it passes through the annealing furnace, as well as during its. travel through'other necessary portions of the equipment prior and subsequent to the furnace. The strip stock to be annealed insteel mills is ordinarily available in predetermined lengths, each wound in a coil for example on a winding block. In order to provide a continuous strip adapted for continuous feeding through annealing apparatus, it is necessary to first provide means for unwinding such coils in succession and for welding or otherwise securing the terminal ends of each length to the leading'end of the next succeeding length to be fed through the apparatus. Since such welding occupies at least a brief time interval during which the travel of the strip has to be interrupted at the point of welding, provision atsubsequent points in the equipment has to be made for permitting the portions of the strip being annealed to continue to travel uniformly through the annealing furnace. Further difliculties arise in feeding-or advancing the strip at the same desired adjusted speed,

quent cooling" thereof. Otherwise the strip 4 might at times be subjected to excessive stretching or breakage, or slack mightaccumulate and mterfere with proper regulation of the rate of treatment or the duration of the heating and T cooling steps.

After the strip, has been treated and upon its delivery from the equipment, the necessary rewinding of the strip and the cutting of same into lengths for the purpose of recoiling, of such lengths respectively on separate wind-up blocks, involves further difliculties. That is, the wind up tension and any variations thereof must be counteracted and kept. from altering the speed and, tension of the strip as delivered from the annealing apparatus. Also since the cutting of the strip temporarily releases the 'wind-up tension,.'provision must be made for maintaining continuous and uniform withdrawal of the strip from the apparatus despite such interruptions.v In addition to the above problems, it is necessary to provide means for either stopping the apparatus or quickly correcting the speed and tension of the strip when very abnormal conditions arise, so that abnormal heating and ruination of sections of the .strip maybe avoided in the furnace, or at least breakage of the strip and the necessity of rethreading another strip through the equipment may be avoided.

Various further and more specific objects,,fea-

tures and advantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompany- I ing drawings which form a part of this specificaboth to and from the annealing furnace and with uniform tension within the furnace and cooling apparatus associated therewith. That is, the motor driven means for feeding the strip to and from the. furnace should preferably be adjustable to permit proper adjustment-of the rate or duration of the annealing process. Also at the same time, means are not only necessary for adjusting the rate of feeding of the strip into the furnace to generally correspond. to the selected speed of delivery from the furnace, but readjustments of the relative speeds into and from the furnace must be made whenever necessary to keep the tension within predetermined limits despite possible slippage or other.'variations in the feeding apparatus and despite variations in the stretching of the heated strip arising from minor irregularities in the stock and tion and illustrate merely by way of example certain preferred forms of the invention. The invention consists in such novel features, ar-

rangements and combinations of parts as may be hereinafter disclosed and claimed.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a somewhat-schematic diagram showing as an example, a pre-' ferred arrangement of equipment embodying the invention, together with a diagram of a preferred example of electrical control circuits for the various motors of such equipment;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 respectively are front and side elevational, and partial sectional plan .views showing the mechanical parts of a preferred arviews respectively showing one example of a prepossible irregularities in the heating and subse- 5 livery end of the equipment;

ferred arrangement of the apparatus at the de- Fig. 11 is a sectional view of an adjustable friction drive mechanism which may be used according to the invention, in the example of the apparatus shown in Figs. and 6, and

12 is a somewhat schematic diagram of an alternative arrangement of the apparatus at the delivery end of the equipment.

Referring now toFig. 1, the metal strip which is to be treated and thetravel of which is to be controlled in the apparatus, is indicated at 20 This strip may beunwound from a coil carried .by a pay-out block as at 2| or 22 and then passed over suitable guide rollers as at 23, through a spot welding device schematically indicated at 24. thence through a clamping device schematically indicated at 25, and then through slack take-up mechanism as somewhat schematically indicated at 26, and described in detail in my copending application filed January 30, 1941, for Patent No.

2,280,943, granted April '28, 1942, and entitled Apparatus for handling metal strip, reference to which is hereby made. In brief, this equipment, which, per se is not herein claimed, provides an arrangement whereby when the metal.

strip on the pay-out block 2| for example, is all or nearly all unwound, then its end or a terminal portion thereof may be brought into contact at the welding device 24 with the leading end of another length of strip'stock from another-payout block such as at 22. Then the welding device is operated for welding the two strips together to form a continuous strip which may pass through the annealing apparatus without inter ruption. However, since the travel of the strip has to be temporarily halted at the welding device, the slack take-up mechanism 25 in conjunction with the clamping device 25, are arranged in such a way that portions of the strip traveling through the parts of the equipment subsequent to the take-up mechanism 25, are permitted to continue their travel at a substantially uniform rate. That is, the take-up mechanism may comprise a plurality of fixed rollers 21, over which the strip is passed alternately with rollers as at 25, which latter rollers are movable vertically on a carriage 29. Thus at some time prior to the by a motor 34 having a fleld winding 34. Next, the strip may be passed in the form of a loop of variable length, over a dancer roll as at 55 which is preceded and succeeded by suitable guide rolls as at 35. The dancer roll may be supported in a counterweighted carriage 81 adapted to move up and down in a guide frame it in response to variations in the tension of the strip 25.

Further details as to the construction and mounting of this dancer roll carriage will be apparent from a substantially similar device hereinafter described in connection with Figs. 2 to 4. In

brief, the dancer roll carriage may normally be urged upwardly against the downward force of the strip on the roller by a suitable cable, pulley and counterweight arrangement. Thus, when the tension on the strip 20 tends to increase, the dancer roll carriage will be drawn downwardly, and conversely, when the strip tension tends to decrease, the dancer roll carriage will move 'up- 'wardly.

. ner in which these contacts serve to control the able known type as schematically indicated at 45.

arrival in the welding device 24, of the end of a length of the strip, the rollers 28 may be gradually moved to' an elevation such as shown, to accumulate a reserve supply of the strip, in the form of loops 30, between the various rollers 21, 28. Then when the end of a length .of strip stock arrives in the welding device, it is clamped by the device 25 against further travel, pending the welding thereto of the lead end of the next length of strip stock. And during this weldin operation the carriage 29 may be gradually lowered so that the reserve accumulation 30 continues to supply the amount of strip necessary to maintain continuous travel of the strip through subsequent parts of the equipment. After the welding step is completed, the clamping device 25 is released and the travel of the strip continues a: 2bzefore, but from another pay-out block as a After leaving the take-up mechanism 25, the strip may pass between a pair of pinch rollers as at, one of which may be driven as through a sprocket and chain connection 32 and shaft 33 Then the strip may be passed over a cooling table or chamber as somewhat schematically indicated at 41 and thence through a cooling tower similarly indicated-at 48. The cooling table may include a plurality of feed rolls as at 45 'connected together as by a chain drive, the latter in tum' being driven as through a shaft by a motor 5| having a field winding as at 5|.

From the cooling tower 48 the strip may be passed under another dancer roll as at 52, thence over a suitable swivel guide roll as at 53 and then over the rolls of a bridle stand as at 54. The dancer roll 52 as shown, may be mounted in a suitable support pivoted as at 55 and carryin a switch operating arm 55 for engaging a circuit closing switch 51. When the tension of the strip 20 at the'- dancer roll 52exceeds a safe predetermined limit,this roll is elevated to thereby cause the arm 55 to close the switch 51. This in turn will cause various of the motors to stop in a manner hereinafter described.

The bridle stand rolls 54 may be driven as by a motor 58 having a field winding 58'. After leaving the bridle stand, the strip 20 may pass underanother dancer roll as at 55 mounted upon dancer roll carriage, the cable running over a pulley as at 69 at the top of the frame 6|. The.

cable 68 may also passwith one or more turns around a pulley 18 connected as by a chain drive 1| for operating a rheostat as at 12 in circuit with the motor field winding 66'; I

After leaving the dancer roll 68, the strip 28 may pass to a delivery and wind-up arrangement including a plurality of pairs of pinch,

rolls as at 14. These rolls may be driven by friction drive means hereinafter described, permitting slippage of each roll individually in re-' spect to chain drive means as at 15. The drive means 15 in turn may be driven as by a chain 16 connected to speed reduction drive means as at 11, the latter in turn beingdriven through gearing as at 18 by the motor 66. From the rolls 14 the strip may pass over a guide roll as at 19 and. thence, to a wind-up blockas at 88 or 8|. These wind-upblocks may be alternately driven by the motor 66 through suitable friction slip clutch connections at 82, 83 as hereinafter .described, and driven by shaft 84 connected to'the motor 66.

The strip as it is being wound on either windup block 88 or 8| will ordinarily be under sufllcient tension so that it will over-drive pinch rollers 14, that is, cause their friction drives to slip, whereby these rolls will rotate at a speed faster than theywould normally be driven by.

the motors 66. However, the speed of this motor as controlled by the dancer roll 68, will be regulated through circuits described below, so that sufficient friction is applied through the driving connections of rolls 14 whereby the strip is delivered from the preceding equipment at a uniform and relatively slow rate of travel and with a regulated-tension from the bridle stand 54, even though the pull on the strip from the wind-up block may be excessive orvariable.

The pinch rolls 14 in cooperation with the dancer roll 68 also regulate the delivery of the strip at a uniform rate of travel with a regulated tension from the bridle stand 54, even though it is necessary from time to time to cut the delivered strip in order to shift from a filled wind-up block as at 8|- to an empty wind-up block as at 88 for example, or vice versa. 'That is, when for example the wind-up block 8| is Accordingly at these times dancer roll'88 will be gradually lowered, thus increasing the size of the'strip loop between the bridle stand 64 and rolls 14. This will of course continue to permit the strip to travel from the bridle stand 64 at substantially a uniform rate and under substantially the same tension. But'since some .Of the strip accumulates in the loop of increasing size,

, the end of the strip will not be delivered from rolls 14 as rapidly asthe normal strip speed and hence the operator will be given ample time to shift from one wind-up block to the other. The

operator ordinarily will complete these operations before the dancer roll 68 falls to the bottom of its carriage frame. Thereupon the over-drive for the pinch rolls 14 by tension from the new wind-up block will in due course cause the dancer roll 68 to be elevated to its normal position again.

The operating and control circuits for the various drive motors will now be described in connection with the circuit diagrams of Fig. 1.- Power may be supplied from an alternating current source to a motor-generator set 85, the generator of which has a field winding 85' connected as shown may be supplied with power from the mains 88, 89 and thus the speed of these motors as a group, may be adjusted by varying the voltage across the mains 88, 89 through adjustments of the rheostat 86. The field windings as at 34', 5|, 58', 66' for the various drive motors as shown may all be connected to the 220-volt source of supply 81. With the particular arrangement shown, the field winding for motor 58 .which'drives the bridle stand rolls 54, is connected directly across the constant voltage D. C. supply 81, whereas the fields for the other drive motors 34., 5| and 66,'all have individual automatic -or manual adjustments permitting the speeds of the latter motors to be individually adjusted so asto maintain the-proper rate of travel about filled, the operator may cut the strip'at a point between guide roll 19 and wind-up block 8|, and then carry the severed strip end, as it is being delivered, over to the wind-up block 88 for attachment to the latter. Thereupon the clutch for wind-up block 88 may be engaged.

Thereafter wind-up block 8| may be disconnected and the filled block replaced by an'empty block ready for use when the block 88 is filled. Dur-' ing these shift-over operations, since the windup blocks will not apply any tension to the strip. the strip will of course be driven at the pinch rolls 14 at a speed determined by the speed of motor 66 acting through the, above mentioned friction drive means on these' rolls. The speed oiimotor 66 and its drive connections to the rolls." may normally be such that during this shifting from one wind-up block to the other,

the rolls 14 will rotate slcwer than when overdriven by the tension from a wind-up block.

of the metal strip 28 at the desired regulated tensions both to and from the bridle stand 64. That is, once the motor 58 is adjusted at its desired speed determined by the voltage across mains 88, 89 (or from any other suitable source), then the speeds of the other motors maybe governed .or adjusted accordingly in various ways,

hereinafter described.

First, a single manually adjustable rheostat 98 may be provided in circuitwith the field windings 34', 5| and 66', whereby motors 34,6l and 66 may be initially manually adjusted at the proper speeds .to correspond with the speed of motor 58, the latter motor in effect operating quently control the tension on the strip between. the first pair of pinch rolls 8|, and the bridle stand 84, thus preventing undue stretching or excessive-s'lack in the annealing furnace 46. It is important to thus regulate the tension, in view of speed of motor 34 to be progressively decre the heated, softened condition of-the strip within the furnace. That is, any stretching of the hot strip should either be eliminated or made uniform and, to this end the tension of the strip entering the furnace should preferably be regulatedwith substantial uniformity, and particularly any very excessive tensioning or slackening should be avoided.

One form 'of control circuit arrangement for the motor 34 whereby the above objects may be carried out will now be described. As shown,

the connection 8| for field winding 34 may be continued through an automatically adjustable rheostat as at 94 and thence through a resistdriving the motor 86 in one direction, runs toswitch contact 43 adjacent the dancer roll frame 38. A connection 98 for operating motor -98 in the opposite direction, runs as shown to switch contact 44 also at the dancer roll frame.' The return wire I00 for motor 88 may be connected 4 as shown to one side of the power source 81. With this arrangement the rheostat 84 may be automatically operated as follows. Assuming that the tension inthe strip 20 as it enters the annealing furnace is increased, then the dancer roll 35 will be pulled down and if this tendency is somewhat abnormal, then grounded contact 40 on the dancer roll carriage will complete a circuit from ground 4|, contact 40, switch contact 44, connection 89 through motor 86, connection I00 to one side of the source of power 81, the other side of which is grounded. This will cause the motor 88 to rotate in a direction tending to decrease theresistance offered by rheostat 84,

thus causing motor 34 to increase progressivelyits speed so long as this circuit is maintained, and thereby the tension on the strip 20 as it enters the annealing furnace is lessened. When as a result of the lessening of the tension, the dancer roll 35 is raised enough to remove contact 40 from switch contact 44, then of course the circuit for motor 88 will be opened and motor 34 will continue to run at its increased speed, but without further increase- If the speed of motor 34 then is great enough so that the strip 20 eventually tends to become abnormally slack as it enters the annealing furnace, then the dancer roll 34 will rise to a point where contact 40 engages switch contact 43, thus operating motor 88 in a reverse direction, causing the resistance in rh ostat 84 to be increased and hence causing he d. Accordingly the tension in the strip 20 will tend to increase and thus draw the dancer 35 downwardly again, and again interrupting the circuit to motor 88. The motor 34 will then continue at the same speed until the tension of the strip again tends to become too great or too small.

Sometimes it may happen that sudden or excessive slackening of the tension in the strip 20 until contact 40 leaves switch contact 42 for again releasing relay I02. Similarly at other times the strip tension may vary excessively or suddenly tend to increase to a point where dancer roll 35 is lowered enough for contact 40 to engage switch contact 45. Then through a connection I04, a relay I 05 will be energized, causing its make" contact I06 to be closed. This in turn, by reason of connections 8| and I01, causes the resistance of rheostat 84 to be short-circuited. Hence in that case the motor 34 will rapidly increase its speed, and tend to ,slacken the strip tension progressively until such time as contact 40 leavesswitch contact 45, whereupon relay |05 will be released and the control of motor 34 will revert to the automatically ad- Justable rheostat 84 and as determined by motor 86 and switch contacts 43, 44.

Thus in effect the speed of motor 34 may be controlled in four diflerent ways, viz: (a) its speed may be initially controlled to generally correspond tothat of motor 58 through adjustment of the armature voltages as determined by the voltage across the supply mains 88, 89, which is in turn controlled by the adjustable rheostat 86; (b) the speed of the three motors 34, 5| and 88, as a group, may be controlled to correspond to the speed of motor 58 by controlling the field circuits of these motors individually if preferred, or with the single manually adjustable rheostat 80; (c) the speed of motor 34 individually may be regulated automatically to regulate the tension of the strip as it enters thefurnace, within relatively narrow limits by the action of the switch contacts 43, 44, motor 98 and rheostat 94, and (d) abnormal tension or slackening of the strip at this point may be corrected by the action of the switch contacts 42 and 45 acting respectively through the relays I02 and I05 to suddenly and substantially increase or decrease the resistance in the circuit of field winding 34'. It will be observed that these control arrangements collectively insure that the strip will be not only passed into the annealing furnace at the desired regulated tension, but that'also the strip will be fed to and through the furnace at the proper speed to generally correspond with the speed of travel of the strip over the bridle stand 84.

The speed of motor 5| which drives the strip through the cooling chamber 41 as above indicated may be adjusted by the manual rheostat '80 in circuit with the field winding 5|. Thus the speed of the strip through the cooling chamber and cooling tower 48 may be maintained the same as at the bridle stand 54, as driven by the motor 58.

As above indicated, if the tension of the strip as it leaves thecooling tower 48 should for any reason become abnormally great, then dancer roll 52 will be elevated to close switch 51. This in turn will energize relays as at H0, Ill, 2,

. each having break contacts as shown in cirwill tend to occur whereby the dancer roll 35 j will be raised enough to permit contact 40 to engage switch contact 42. In that event, through connection |0| a circuit will be closed for energizing a relay I02 which will then open its break contact I03, and thus throw in series with field 34', the resistance 85, and this willquickly decrease the speed of motor 34, tending to rapidly increase the tension of the strip 20,

of the equipment. Although stoppage of the strip within the furnace 48 may cause overheating and thus render a section of the strip defective, yet the cutting out of such defective section at the wind-up blocks when operations are resumed, may be much more easily accomplished than rethreading a new length of strip through the various. parts of the equipment, as necessary ifbreakage occurred. A

It is further noted that upon stoppage of the motor 58 and the bridle stand 54 due to the action of the dancer roll 52, the motor 65 for driving the parts which advance the strip subsequent-to the bridle stand, will also be quickly stopped by the action of control circuits hereinafter described. Thus when dancer roll 52 closes switch 51, all of the moving parts of the system will be directly or indirectly stopped before breaking tensions occur. at any point.'

As above indicated, it is desirable to deliver I the strip." iromthe bridle stand 54 at a regulated and generally uniform tension and to also continue such delivery through pinch rolls 14 uniformly even during the times that the operator is shifting fromone wind-up block asv at 88 or 8|, to the other. The circuits for controlling the speed of motor) to meet these conditions will now be described. As above stated,

., I I1, a connection. I28 running to normally closed the field winding 56' is in circuit with a rheostat 12, the adjustment of which is automati- -cally controlled bythe height of dancer roll 60 operating through cable '88, counterweight 61 and pulley 10. Thus, when the tension at dancer roll 58 tends to become excessive, the dancer roll will be. raised, and the counterweight 81 will belowered. This in turn by reason of the driving rheostat 90, 'thus giving a generally uniform rate connections between cable'68 and the arm of rheostat I2 will cause the efiective resistance in rheostat I2 to'be increased, thus reducing the speed of motor 66 and relieving the excess tension in the metal strip. Thereupon the dancer roll 68 will fall, thusraising counterweight B1 and operating rheostat I2 in the opposite direction to increase the speed of motor 66 and check any undue slackening of the strip or increase its tension again if it falls below normal.

From the connections shown in Fig. 1, it will be apparent that upon closing switch 68 (switch 82 being in its normally closed position), a circuit will be provided through connections 8 and H8 and switches 58, 82, for reenergizing relay Ill, thus closing its two make contacts and again starting the motor 66 and closing the lockup circuit for the relay. Thereupon the motor 85 will resume the driving of th pinch rollers 14. Since at this moment the dancer roll 88 is in its lowermost position and the counterweight 61' is in a high position, the resistance of rheostat 12 will be cut out. Consequently the motor 66 will quickly reach a speed suflicient to reduce the strip loop at dancer roll 68 to normal pro-.

portions. At the same time the rheostat 12 will be gradually readjusted so as to reduce 'the motor speed again to normal. Also upon the consequent raising of' the dancer roll 80, the switch.

63 will be restored to its normal open condition.

From the above description it will be apparent that motor 55 is controlled in four ways, viz (a) its speed may be initially adjusted together with that of all the other motors, depending upon the rate of annealing required, by adjustment of the armature voltage, i. e., as deter mined by the manually adjustable rheostat 8.5;

(b) its-speed with that-of motors 34 and 5| maybe initially adjusted -to correspond to the speed of motor 58, i. e., by manually adjustable field of travel for the strip throughlthe entire equipment; (c) the speed of motor 65 is closely regulated toregulate the strip tension between the bridle stand 54 and the delivery pinch rolls 'I4,

- by the action of the dancer roll 88 in conjunc- It will be noted that oneside of the armatur of motor 66 is connected by a wire H5 to power main 88 through a make contact 6 of a.

tion with the fieldrheostat I2; and (d) the motor 66 may be automatically stopped upon very excessive tension at the dancer roll 50, and after sufiicient time has elapsed to substantially reduce this tension. by the accumulation of a loop at the dancer roll, then the motor is automatically started again, first at a relatively high speed,

which speed is gradually diminished and regu relay III. This relay is normally energized when the equipment is running and is kept energized by a lock-up circuit running from the grounded side of the 220-volt D. C. supply 81 through a connection H8, a make contact H9 on relay switch 52 near the top ofthe dancer roll frame tion l 2| and the winding of relay H1 back to the other side of the 220-volt supply 81. ,However, if the tension in the metal strip -at"'dancer roll tenlis to become very abnormally great, either because of emergency stoppage of motors 34, 5| and ,58 as above referred to, or for any other reason, then the dancer roll will be elevated to a point where switch operating member 84 mounted on the dancer roll carriage will act to open switch 62 and thus release the lock-up circuit of relay Ill. Thus the make contacts 5|, thence. this circuit runs through a connec V at various points. At the same time the various H8 and N9 of this relay will be opened and the motor 68 will 'be stopped because of the breaking of its armaturev circuit. If the other drive motors continue operating, the strip will continue 'to be fed from the bridle stand 54 and consequently the tension atdancer roll 58 will be quickly relieved, and within a relatively short time this dancer roll will bepermitted to fall far enough so that a substantial loop in the strip will accumulate at this point and finally lated as the dancer roll assumes its regulating positions. I

Thus the various motors and controls there'- for, both prior and subsequent to the bridle stand 54, are such as to provide the'necessary regulated tensions and generally uniform speeds of travel of the strip, which will permit the equipment to be continuously operated with automatic-correction of all of the abnormal condiv tions liable to be encountered due to changes in the strip tension or minor differences of speed regulating devices and controls are such as to permit the operator to shift the pay-out blocks as well as the wind-up blocks when necessary without interrupting or interfering with the conbe 'counterweightedso, as to form normally an upwardly extending loop'whereas thedancer roll 88 forms a downward loop.

.As shown, the dancer roll 60 may be mounted upon a shaft iournaledasat I25 and I25 in a the switch operating member 85 on the dancer -roll carriage will engage and close switch 58.

. connection .to the' motor 66.

each side respectively with pairs of rollers asat I 28, I23 adapted, together with the edges of the carriage, to embrace the edges of guide strips as at I36, I3I, these strips in turn being suitably fixed to I-beams as at I32, I33, forming the sides of the frame 6| above mentioned in the description of Fig. 1. Suitable stops as at I34 may be fixed to these beams near, their lower portions for limiting downward movement of the carriage I21. The various electrical contacts and switch parts may be suitably secured to the dancer roll carriages and frames at desired points determined by trial and as generally indicated in Fig. 1, for both. of the dancer rolls 36 and 66. The carriage I21 -is shown suspended by the cable 66 running over pulleys as at I36 and 69 mounted at the-top of the frame 6| and. thence down to the pulley 16. As shown in Figs. 2, 4 and '1, the pulley 16 may be formed with a spiral groove as at I36 adapted to receive a number of turns of the cable 68 and tofirmly secure same against slippage. The cable runs from this pulley down to the counterweight 61.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4 and in further detail known type, as at I62, may be provided for adjusting the pressure applied to the bridle-stand rolls.

As further shown-in Figs. 5 and 6, the delivery rolls 14 may comprise three pairs of pinch rolls between which the'strip 26 passes in succession after leaving the dancer roll 66, and before passing over the final guide roll 16. Pressure on these pinch rolls may be adjusted by screw-down I66. The latter shaft may drive the sprocket and chain connection 16 to the first of the pairs of pinch rolls 14.

in Fig. 7, the pulley 16 may be carried upon a end of this shaft opposite from the pulley 16 may have afllxed thereon a suitable collar member I46 formed with 9; lug I, which in turn may have detachably bolted thereto a member I42 for engaging either of two plate members I43, I44 (Figs. 8-10). The plate members I43, I44 may be secured as by screw bolts as at I46-to a sprocket member I46 rotatably mounted upon .shaft I31. As shown in- Fig. 5, the sprocket I46 may be connected'as by chain 1| to operate the rheostat 12 above mentioned in connection with Fig. 1 for controlling motor 66.

By reference to Figs. '1 and 8 it will be noted that the plate members I43, I44 in cooperation nection as between the shaft I31 and sprocket I46. That is, after the cable has turned the pulley 16 in one direction, then if the direction of movement ofthe cable is reversed, the pulley with the member I42 provide a lost motion con- 10 will tum. through a considerable angle before of the dancer roll 66 which are insufllcient to necessitate any change of speed for the motor 66, will not cause the rheostat 12 to be readjusted, at least until such variations accumulate or increase to a point sufilcient to move the rheostat through this lost motion connection. As shown in Figs. 8-10, the amount of lost motion at this connection may be properly adjusted as determined by trial, through changing in various ways the positions of the plates I43, I44. That is, for example an annular series of 8 bolt holes may be provided in the sprocket I46 for the screw bolts I46 and this will permit these plates to be bolted on in y of the three different positions shown in these figures to provide lost motion .as between the shaft I31 and the sprocket of approximately 180, 90 or 60.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the lowermost roll as at I46 of the bridle stand 64 may be driven by The strip. 26 as shown may first pass between the two lowermost bridle stand rolls I48, I46 and then around one of the upper rolls I66 and between same and another smaller upper roll I6I, and thence on to dancer roll 66. Suitable screw-down means of As indicated in Fig. 6 and as shown in further detail in Fig. 11, the lowermost of .each pair of pinch rolls 14 may be each connected to a pair of sprockets as at I66, I61 through a slip-friction I drive permitting these rolls to be over-driven" by the strip tension caused by the wind-up blocks. as above explained in connection with Fig. 1. That is, these sprockets may be bolted to an annular member as at I66, the inner surfaces of which may be engaged by arcuately shaped members as at I66, I66-of angular cross section and formed with various grooves as at I6I for receiv-.-

ing lubricating material. This assembly of parts may be rotated upon a hollow member I62, forming an oil reservoir and having a flange I63 against which the members I66 are adapted to be pressed with adjustable pressure applied as by ahand wheel m acting'gthrough springs as at m received in annular shoes as at I66, I61 interposed between the hand wheel and the members I69. Thus the sprockets I66, I61 are connected to member I62 by a frictional drive permitting slippage at members I66, I66 to 'anextent depending upon the adiustment of the hand wheel I64. As shown, the collars as at I62 may be keyed to the shafts of the lowermost pinch rolls 14. The sprockets I66, I61 for the several sets of pinch rolls may all be connected and driven together by the chain 16. f

'It will be apparent that this type of drive to the pinch rolls 14, by counteracting thetension applied to the strip by the wind-up blocks, will serve to cause suflicient tension in the metal strip 26 ateach pair of the pinch rolls *tokeep the strip taut between-each pair of rolls and also between the first pair and the dancer roll 66. Yet if the wind-up tension tends to drive the rolls 14 too fast, the loop at dancer roll 66 will diminish and cause the motor 66 tom slower, increasing the I frictional drag on rolls 14, also decreasing the speed of the wind-up blocks, hence allowing the loop to increase again. Thus the amount of tension will be so regulated by the motor 66 and its control means acting in conjunctionwith the dancer roll,as to normally maintain a substantially uniform tension in the strip as delivered by the bridle roll stand. On the other hand, when the metal strip 26 is being out, in order to shift from onewind-up block to another, there will be of course little or no tension in-the strip subsequent to thelast pair of pinch rolls 14. Yet at these times also the drive arrangement for the motor 66 acting in conjunctionwith its control rolls I4 is particularly adaptable for obtaining proper wind-up tension on the wind-up blocks without danger of breakage of the strip when of heavy gauge. For handling strip of tin plate gauges at the discharge end ofthe equipment, the arrangement diagrammatically shown in Fig. 12 may sometimes be preferred for preventing any tendencyof the strip to slip on the rolls. That is, as shown in Fig; 12 such slippage may be prevented by using a horizontally arranged;

bridle stand as at I!!! wherein the stripafter passing over guide roll I'll, is wrapped through a considerable are around three successive rolls, thus preventing slippage. The three larger rolls of the assembly I may be driven in the same manner as rolls 14. However, whenhe'avy gauge stock is being handled, in .order to avoidsubstantial bending of the stock during its delivery, the arrangement of pinch rolls ll in Figs. 5 and 6 may be preferred. V

Figs. 5 and 6 also illustrate in further detail driving means for the wind-up blocks 80, 8|. That is, the shaft 84 from motor 66, may be extended and connected as by gearing at I12,

I13 to one side of the clutch members 82, 83

respectively, the other side of such clutch members being connected to the shafts carrying the wind-up blocks 80, 8| respectively, as will be readily understood. It will be further understood that the clutches 82, 83 are adapted to be thrown into and out of engagement alternatively, depending upon which of the winding blocks 80 or circuits for the rheostat motor, constructed andarrangedunder control .of the dancer roll to op- I 8| is in use, and furthermore, that in view of the gradually increasing size of the coils of strip as wound on these blocks-the clutches 82, 83 are made of a suitable known. type providing for increased slippage of the drive as the-coils become larger, and so that the wind-up tension applied to the strip continues approximately uniform.

, While the invention has been described in detail with respect to particular preferred examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention that-various changes and modifications may be de without departing from the spirit and 500;? of

the invention, and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

j 1. Apparatus for passing strip metal at substantially constant speed with regulated tension, through an annealing furnace and associated cooling means, comprising: motor driven pinch rolls engaging the strip in advance of the furnace, means for continuously supplying to said rolls a continuous strip of the stock to be. annealed; motor driven rolls engaging the strip to pull same from the cooling means, means for initially adjusting with respect toeachother the speeds of the motors for the driven rolls to cause the strip to normally travel at substantially the same speed at each set of driven rolls.

a dancer roll over which the strip forms a variable loop at a point between said pinch rolls and the furnace, the changes in size of such loop and the consequent position of'the dancer roll rheostat in a direction to decrease or increase the pinchroll motor speed respectively during times when the loop is abnormally large or small.

2. Apparatus for passing-strip metal at substantially constant speed with regulated tension,

through an annealing furnace and associated cooling, means, comprising: 'motor driven pinch rolls engaging the strip in advance of the furnace, means for continuously supplying to said rolls a continuous strip of the stock to be annealed, motor driven rolls engaging the strip to pull samefrom the cooling means, means for initially adjusting with respect to each other the speeds'of themotors for the driven rolls to cause the strip to normally travel at substantially the same speed at each set of driven rolls, a dancer roll over which the strip forms a variable loop at'a point'adjacent the furnace, the changes in -size of such loop and the consequentposition of the dancer roll depending upon variations inthe length of strip between the two sets of rolls, a motor-driven rheostat connected to control the pinch roll motor speed, and control means and erate the rheostat in a direction to decrease or increase the pinch roll motor speed respectively during times when the loop is abnormally large or small.

3. Apparatus for passing strip metal at substantially constant speedwith regulated tension, through an annealing furnace and associated cooling means, comprising: motor driven sets of rolls preceding and succeeding the furnace and cooling means for advancingthe strip into same and out thereof at generally the same constant speed, a dancer roll over which the strip forms a variable loop adjacent the furnace, the changes in size of such loop and the consequent position of the dancer roll depending upon variations in the relative speeds of the .rolls and the length of strip between said sets of rolls, and electrical control means actuated by the dancer roll dur-' ing times when the loop isv abnormally large or small, and constructed and arranged for continforms a variable loop adjacent the furnace, the

changes in size of such loop and the consequent position of the dancer roll depending upon varj iations, in the relative speeds of the rolls and the length of strip betwen said sets of rolls, electrical control means actuated bythe dancer roll when the loop becomes abnormally large or small, to gradually alter the relative motor speeds for said sets of rolls in a direction tending to restore the loop size to normal, and means supplementing said control means for abruptly and substantially altering said relative motor speeds in such dimon to said motors for concurrently adjusting the speeds thereof, means for adjusting the speed of one of said motors with respect to the other ,for causing the strip to travel to and from the furnace at generally the same speed, and additional means controlled by changes in the length of strip between said feeding and pulling means for automatically readjusting the relative speeds the operations of winding and severing of the ing means through which said mils are driven,

of said motors when the strip speeds at said feeding and pulling means differ substantially, whereby such readiustments tend to maintain said strip speeds the same and constant within a predetermined limited range.

6. Apparatus for passing strip metal at substantially constant speed with regulated tension, through an annealing furnace, comprising means for successively removing lengths of strip stock respectively from pay-out blocks and for welding said-lengths. end-to-end, means for feeding the resulting continuous strip into the furnace, continuously at substantially uniform speed and under substantially a predetermined regulated tension, discharge rolls and motor driven wind-up blocks so constructed and arranged that the treated strip may be severed into lengths and coiled as discharged onto said wind-up blocks respectively, means for pulling the strip from the furnace substantially at said uniform speed, a take-up device for normally maintaining the strip taut and under constant tension between said latter means and said discharge rolls, and electrical control means actuated by said device for regulating the wind-up block motor speed.

7. Apparatus for controlling the travel of strip metal passing through an annealing furnace,

- comprising means for continuously feeding the strip stock into said furnace, discharge rolls and motor driven wind-up blocks so constructed and arranged that the treated strip may be severed into lengths and coiled as discharged onto said wind-up blocks respectively, means for pulling the strip from the furnace substantially at uniform speed, a take-up device for normally maintaining the strip taut and under constant tension between said lattermeans and said dis charge rolls, and electrical control means' actuated by said device for regulating the wind-up block motor speed.

8. In combination, apparatus for treating a continuous traveling metal strip, through which apparatus the strip is advanced at substantially uniform speed and regulated tension, a plurality of motor driven wind-up blocks so constructed and arranged that a length of the treated strip may be wound under tension on one block, then severed and the next length similarly wound on another block, motor driven rolls engaging the strip between said apparatus and the wind-up blocks, and means controlled by changes in the and means controlled by changes in the tension of the strip betwen said apparatus and said rolls for so regulating the speed of the motor drive for said rolls as to maintain said last mentioned tension approximately constant during the operations of winding and severing of the strip.

10. In combination, apparatus for treating a continuous traveling metal strip, through which apparatus the strip is advanced at substantially uniform speed and regulated tension, a plurality of motor driven wind-up blocks so constructed and arranged that a length of the treated strip may be wound under tension on one block, then severed and the next length similarly wound on another block, a motor driven bridle stand between said, apparatus and the wind-up blocks, the strip being bent in its travel around. rolls of said bridle stand for engagement by such rolls without substantial slippage; and means controlled by changes in the strip tension between said bridiestand and said apparatus for so regulating the speed of the motor drive for saidbridle stand as to maintain said last mentioned tension approximately constant during the oper- I apparatus the 'strip is advanced at substantially uniform speed; a pluralityof motor driven wind- .up blocks so constructed and arranged that a tension on one block, then severed and the next length similarly" wound on another block, a pinrality of rolls engaging the strip between said strip tension between saidrolls and said apparatus for so regulating the speed of the motor drive for said rolls as to maintain said last men-- apparatus and the wind-up blocks, 'amotor driven frictional slip connecting means for driving said rolls to continue delivery, of the strip during the operations of shifting from one wind-up block to another, said rolls being normally overdriven by the strip when the strip isbeing pulled under tension by the wind-up blocks, with consequent application of a retarding force to the rolls through said frictional means, and means controlled by variations in the strip tension between saidrolis and said apparatus for so regulating the speed of the motor drive for said rolls as to maintain saidlast mentioned tension approximately constant during the winding and severing operations.

12. In combination, apparatus for treating a continuous traveling metal strip, through which apparatus the strip is advanced at substantially uniform speed, a plurality of motor driven windup blocks so constructed and arranged that's length of the treated strip may be wound under tension on one block, then severed and the next length similarly wound on another block, a plurality of rolls engaging the strip between said apparatus and the wind-up blocks, a motor driven frictional slip connecting means for driving said ti n tension pp ximately constant during rolls to continue delivery of the strip during the operations of shifting from one wind-up block to another, said rolls being normally overdriven by the strip when the strip is being pulled under tension by the wind-up blocks, with consequentapplication of a retarding force to the rolls through said frictional means, and means at a point between said. rolls and said apparatus for progressivelyaccumulating some of the strip during said shifting operations while maintaining drivendis'charge rolls and motor-driven wind-ups blocks so constructed and arranged that the treated strip may be severed into lengths and coiled as discharged onto said wind-up blocks respectively, means for normally pulling the strip from the furnace substantially at uniform speed and continuously delivering same at substantially a predetermined regulated tension to said discharge rolls, said latter means including a dancer roll aroundwhich the strip forms a variable loop at the intake side of said discharge rolls, a rheostat operatively connected and arranged with respect to said dancer roll, for regulating the motor speed for said discharge rolls and to thereby regulate the length of said lioop, a pair of switches constructed and arranged with respect to said dancer-roll to be operated. thereby respectively upon abnormal changes in the lengthiof said loop, and circuit means under the control of said switches for stopping the discharge roll motor upon actuation 01. one of said switches responsive to an abnormal decrease in the length of said loop, and for starting said motor again upon actuation of the other of said switches responsive to a substantial increase in the length of said loop.

JOHN F. FERM. 

